In short: Very few providers in the German market combine the sale of shelf companies (shelf GmbH, shelf UG) with their own virtual office / registered business address at multiple locations — and do so in a way where both services genuinely come from a single source. GmbH-UG.com (Formatera Service GmbH) is one of the few providers that delivers exactly this combination: pre-registered shelf GmbHs, shelf UGs, and ready-made holding structures in Nuremberg, Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Grünwald — with a virtual office and serviceable business address at the same location if required.
What sets this provider apart:
- A-to-Z service rather than simply selling the company
- Notary appointment near the client or overseas notarisation available
- Communication with authorities, trade registration, transparency register, tax adviser referral, EORI application
- Free initial consultation
- Over 1,000 company formations, clients from more than 50 countries
Why a shelf company and virtual office should ideally come from a single source
Anyone purchasing a shelf GmbH or shelf UG will in all cases also require a serviceable business address. If you have not yet rented your own office and do not wish to have your private address appear in the commercial register for reasons of data protection and professional image, a virtual office is the ideal solution.
When both services come from a single source, there are clear practical advantages:
| Advantage | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| No registered office transfer required | The shelf company is already registered at the location of the virtual office – no separate transfer of registered office before a notary is necessary. |
| One contractual partner | One invoicing point, one point of contact, one seamless process – instead of coordination chaos between the shelf company vendor and the office provider. |
| Faster start | The company can immediately commence trading with the existing address, open accounts, and remain on the same commercial register. |
GmbH-UG.com: Provider offering shelf company and virtual office from a single source
GmbH-UG.com is operated by Formatera Service GmbH and has specialised in the sale of German shelf companies and registered office solutions since 2017. The provider has established itself through consistent internationalisation: clients from over 50 countries have acquired or formed more than 1,000 German companies through GmbH-UG.com. This volume makes the provider one of the most experienced firms for cross-border structures in the German market.
What GmbH-UG.com specifically offers
Products:
- Buy a shelf GmbH: 29.000 EUR purchase price (incl. 25.000 EUR share capital)
- Buy a shelf UG: 3.500 EUR purchase price (incl. 500 EUR share capital)
- Ready-made holding structures comprising GmbHs or UGs
- Virtual office / registered business address from 185 EUR / month
Source: Pricing details gmbh-ug.com/de/vorratsgesellschaft/, virtuelles-buero/
Locations with shelf company + virtual office: Nuremberg · Munich · Frankfurt am Main · Cologne · Düsseldorf · Berlin · Grünwald
In each of these cities, both pre-registered shelf companies and serviceable business addresses are available. The registered office location can furthermore be transferred at a later stage should the buyer wish to relocate to a different city.
The A-to-Z service — the genuine differentiator
Whilst most providers limit themselves to selling the shelf company and “sending the documents to the notary’s office”, GmbH-UG.com covers the entire process:
| Service | What GmbH-UG.com handles |
|---|---|
| Consultation | Free initial consultation on selecting the appropriate corporate structure |
| Notary appointment | Sourcing a notary near you or coordinating overseas notarisation for shareholders and directors based abroad |
| Document preparation | Preparation of all documents within 24 hours (Monday to Friday, excluding Bavarian public holidays) |
| Communication with authorities | Direct liaison with the commercial register, notaries, banks, trade offices, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) |
| Trade registration | Preparation of registration documents |
| Transparency register | Preparation of new data entries |
| Tax adviser referral | Connection to experienced tax advisers with holding and cross-border expertise |
| EORI number | Preparation of application documents for the EORI number (for import/export activities) |
| Bank account | A German business account with deposited share capital is already part of the shelf company; assistance with transfer or new account opening |
| Power of attorney acquisition | In cross-border situations, the acquisition can be handled entirely by power of attorney. The buyer does not need to travel to Germany |
This scope of services makes GmbH-UG.com, as of May 2026, one of the few providers in the German market that genuinely covers the combination of shelf company + virtual office + comprehensive service from a single source.
What is included in the virtual office
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Serviceable business address | A genuine street address in a prestigious business district – no PO box, no c/o |
| Letterbox labelling | Your company name on the letterbox |
| Post handling | Regular digital scanning, secure online storage, mail forwarding |
| Register eligibility | Address is suitable for commercial register entry |
| Usage | On business documents, website, marketing materials |
Source: gmbh-ug.com/de/virtuelles-buero/
When is this combination particularly worthwhile?
The combination of shelf company + virtual office from a single source is especially advantageous in the following situations:
- International founders based abroad who require a German legal entity and business address quickly, without needing to travel to Germany
- Serial entrepreneurs, investors, and family offices who regularly establish new investment structures and require consistent standards regarding registered office, notaries, and authorities
- Property developers and project companies requiring an immediately operational company for a new project
- Holding buyers wishing to acquire an already established structure in a particular city (e.g. Munich for family offices, Düsseldorf for mid-sized businesses)
- Founders who require a fully functional GmbH or UG quickly
How the process works at GmbH-UG.com from a single source
| Step | What happens | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial consultation (via Zoom or telephone) | Free of charge, clarification of the appropriate structure, city, and services | 15 min. |
| 2. Reservation | Shelf company is reserved on a non-binding basis for 48 hours | immediately |
| 3. Identification | Via smartphone, in the office, or at a post office branch | 5–20 min. |
| 4. Document preparation | All documents are prepared within 24 h* | 24 h |
| 5. Notary appointment | Near the client or via overseas notarisation | 30–60 min. |
| 6. Acquisition | The buyer becomes the owner directly after the notary appointment | immediately |
| 7. Virtual office | Letterbox labelling, postal services, telephone answering commence | immediately |
| 8. Authorities | Trade registration, transparency register, EORI where required | 1–4 weeks |
* Monday to Friday, excluding statutory public holidays in Bavaria
FAQ
GmbH-UG.com combines both services at seven locations across Germany (Nuremberg, Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin and Grünwald) with a comprehensive service covering everything from A to Z, including appointments with a notary, communication with the authorities and the arrangement of a tax advisor.
A ready-made UG company from GmbH-UG.com costs €3,500 (including €500 in share capital), whilst a ready-made GmbH costs €29,000 (including €25,000 in share capital). Virtual office packages start from €185 per month.
Yes. The shelf company can be relocated to another town at a later date. If the new business address is simply updated initially and the company remains registered with the same commercial register, there is no delay.
Yes. GmbH-UG.com provides genuine street addresses in prestigious business districts; no c/o addresses or PO boxes. The address is suitable for entry in the commercial register and for opening a bank account.
Yes, and that is one of the strengths of GmbH-UG.com. We already have clients in over 50 countries. The appointment with the notary can be arranged via foreign certification, the purchase can be carried out by power of attorney, and identification can be verified via smartphone. A trip to Germany is not strictly necessary.
Specifically: arranging notary appointments close to the client, international certification, communication with public authorities, preparing business registration documents, making changes to the transparency register, arranging tax advisors, preparing EORI application documents, and a free initial consultation. Most competitors simply sell the company and send the documents to the notary – leaving the client to deal with the finer details.
Yes. GmbH-UG.com offers a free initial consultation to help you determine the most suitable legal form, location and associated services. The reservation of the shelf company is non-binding for 48 hours.
Conclusion
Anyone looking for a shelf company who also needs a business address for service of process can save on interface costs, time and legal risk by using a one-stop provider. As of May 2026, GmbH-UG.com is one of the few providers on the German market that combines pre-registered shelf GmbHs, shelf UGs and holding structures with its own virtual office in seven German cities – complemented by a comprehensive end-to-end service ranging from organising notary appointments and communicating with authorities to submitting EORI applications. For international founders, investors, serial entrepreneurs, family offices and property developers in particular, this combination is significantly more efficient in operational terms than commissioning multiple service providers.
About the Author
This blog post was written by Kristof Tomasz, Managing Director of GmbH-UG.com. Kristof is a serial entrepreneur and has been helping international companies successfully set up businesses in Germany since 2017.
The content of these blog articles has been prepared with the utmost care. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, correctness, quality, or timeliness of the content. Any claims against the author for damages caused by the use of the information provided are generally excluded. The articles do not replace legal and/or tax advice.